...hope

“The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,” says the Lord of hosts. “And in this place I will give peace,” says the Lord of hosts. — Haggai 2:9

You’ve probably experienced a season of God-ordained struggle, a time when there was a chill in the corner office, a dent in the savings account, a downturn. Often these days exist for a purpose: to turn our hearts back to God. Sometimes it takes a tragedy for us to hit our knees.  This is what the Israelites of Haggai’s day needed. Charged by God to rebuild the temple, they had abandoned the task, distracted by worldly things. God’s big thing became their small thing.

The prophet Haggai was sent to remind them of their work: “Go up into the mountains and bring down the timber and build my house” (Haggai 1:8 NIV). And he was sent to convey a promise: “‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty” (Haggai 2:9 NIV). When nothing quenches your deepest thirsts, when droughts turn your fields into deserts and retirements into pocket change, what can you do? Evaluate your priorities: Is God’s big thing my big thing?

The Lord stirred up the leadership of His people, and they got to work on His temple. He blessed their renewed spirit. “I am with you” (Haggai 1:13; 2:4), He twice assured them.

He is with you too. It’s not too late to start again. The glory of the latter temple will be greater than the former. Or, in your case, the glory of the latter career, the latter years, will be greater than the former. Turn your heart back to Him.  In God’s plan, the future is always brighter and tomorrow always has the potential to outshine today.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season. — Psalm 1:1–3

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

— Luke 12:34

In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit. 

— Ephesians 2:21–22

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works. — Revelation 2:4-5

~

Lord, You dwelt in the Holy of Holies to be a presence among Your people, the Israelites. Now, You dwell in our hearts. You are always with us.

It’s easy for me to get distracted by my own desires and temptations. But my efforts are always fruitless when they are apart from You and Your will. Forgive me for the times when I misplace my priorities.

Give me a renewed passion for my calling, for my first love — You and Your church. Reorder my priorities so that You are always first. Give me hope for tomorrow, and help me believe that the best really is yet to come when I am working alongside You.

Thank You for choosing to dwell among us, 

first in Your temple and now, through Christ, in my heart. 

I praise You because it is never too late for me to start again.

-max lucado